Detachable handles



Sept. 22, 1959 T. S. THOMBS DETACHABLE HANDLES Filed Nv. 22. 1957 50 INVENTOR Thomas 5. hombs 7 United States Patent 0 DETACHABLE HANDLES Thomas S. Thombs, Westbrook, Maine.

Application November 22, 1957, Serial No. 698,211

1 Claim. (Cl. 294-64) The present invention relates generally to holders for containers; more particularly it relates to an improved detachable handle which is especially adapted for use with paint cans.

Home owners and others who from time to time nd it necessary or desirable to paint walls, furniture or other objects are well aware of the difficulties involved in handling small cans of paint. Often, during a painting or enameling operation, the user succeedsvin spilling the contents of the canon himself, on the floor or uponsome other surface where paint 'is not desired. Moreover, when the can is placed on a ladder or on a step, to allow the user more freedom of action and to permit him to avoid soiling his hands with paint which has dripped down the outside wall of the can, it is sometimes upset and the contents spilled in all directions.

One of the important objetcs of the invention, therefore, is to provide a detachable handle for cans which will permit a user to hold a can safely and with assurance that his hands will not be soiled by the contents of the can.

As another object, the invention provides a detachable handle which will not, when in use, impede the withdrawal of the contents of the can.

Further objects of the invention reside in the provision of a detachable handle which may be attached to or detached from a can quickly and easily, and which may be manufactured in quantity at low cost.

And still another object of the invention is to provide a detachable handle which employs a frame of generally rectangular configuration, which imparts such rigidity and robustness to the device that it will withstand rough usage and may therefore be used over and over again.

Other objects of the invention, not specifically stated hereinabove, will appear during the course of the following description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective showing the invention attached to a can, in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the blank from which the frame of the device is formed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section, on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail top plan view showing a part of the clamping jaw structure.

Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

` Fig. 7 is a perspective showing a slightly modified construction.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, and rst to Fig. 1 thereof, the improved detachable handle forming the subject matter of the present invention includes a frame 10, a fixed clamping jaw member 12 and a movable clamping jaw member 14, the fixed and movable clamping jaw members being engageable with the rims A and B of a can C.

The frame is of sheet metal and is formed from the blank D shown in Fig. 2. By referring to this view ice' it will be seen that the blank D is cut to define a handleV section E and a body section F connected by a portion of reduced width G. Extending below the body section (as seen in Fig. 2) is a bottom arm portion H, and extending abovethe handle section is a tongue K which engages, when the frame has been bent into shape, the bottom arm portion. The outer margins of the handle section are bent, along `the broken lines, to overlie the inner margins and both said margins bent and rolled toward each other, as seen in Fig. 6, to form the handle, designated 1S.

The body of the frame, designated by the numeral 16, is transversely arcuate and includes vertical grooves 17 which are formed by bending the margins of the body section F along the broken lines so that they extend toward each other, as best seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Similarly, the portion G has side margins which are bent inwardly to provide reenforcement, ksaid portion defining a top arm 18. The frame is bent into the generally rectangular shape shown in Figs. l and 3 with the tongue K engaging in grooves, formed by bending the margins L of the bottom arm portion H toward each other, to form the bottom arm, designated 19. As best seen in Fig. 5, said tongue K is formed with holes 20 near its side edges to receive .dimples formed by punching in the margins L, for retaining the tongue in place and thus preventing spreading of the frame. When bent into shape the handle 15 is inclined with respect to the body 16 for providing greater comfort during use. It will also be seen, by referring to Figs. 1 and 4, that the arcuate contour of the body conforms it to the shape of a can to be held, such as the can C.

From a reading of the foregoing it will be understood that the frame 10` is of simple but robust construction and thus will be able to withstand rough handling. Moreover, because it is of generally rectangular, or box, contour and is reenforced, it cannot easily be bent out of shape.

The fixed clamping jaw member 12 is rigidly mounted in the grooves 17 of the body 10 and is held in place by crimping inwardly the margins which form said grooves, by soldering or by any other suitable means. Said member 12 is transversely arcuate, `to t snugly against the front face of the body 10, and is formed with laterally spaced upwardly curved lingers 21. The movable clamping jaw member 14 is slidably mounted in the grooves 17 Aabove the fixed clamping jaw member 12 and is formed with laterally spaced downwardly curved ngers 2.2 and between said fingers with a rearwardly presented extension 23. 'Ihe extension 23 extends above the top arm 18 of the frame and is reinforced by a U- shaped spacer 24. For securing the clamping jaw member 14 in engagement with a can rim a screw 25 and a wing nut 26 are employed, the screw extending upwardly through the arm 18, the spacer 24 and the extension 23 and the nut 26, when tightened on said screw, bearing against the upper face of said extension.

In use, when it is desired to hold a can, such as a can of paint, the wing nut 26 is rst loosened so that the movable clamping jaw member will be shiftable on the body 10. Then the fingers 21 of the fixed clamping jaw member are engaged under the lower rim of the can. Finally, the movable clamping jaw member is shifted for engaging the fingers 22 with the upper rim of the can, when the wing nut may be tightened for clamping the device in place. To remove the detachable handle from the can it is only necessary to loosen the Wing nut 26 and disengage the movable clamping jaw member from the upper rim of the can. The fingers of the fixed clamping jaw member may then be quickly slipped downwardly and the device separated from the can.

Fig.` 7 illustrates a slightly modified embodiment of the invention. In this view the frame includes a metal body 27 of arcuate transverse contour and having side margins bent toward each other to form grooves 28, similar to the grooves 17. The bodyY 277 is formed with extensions `which define upper and lower arms;429 and,

30.- A cylindrical'handle 31 extends between the arms at their rear end portions. The handle 31` may be of wood, metal or plastic, as desired. As in the first-de'- scribed embodiment, the structure Vof Fig. 7 includes a xedclamping jaw member, shown at 32, and a movable clamping jaw member 33, each said clamping jaw member having fingers for engagement with a rim of a can. The movable clampingjaw member 33 has a rearwardly disposed extension 34 which accommodates the screw and wing nut arrangement, shown at 35, as in the embodiment rst described. The modied embodiment of the invention is used in the same manner as is the irstV described embodiment, so that further explanation is believed unnecessary. AIt will be clear from the foregoing description that, as to both embodiments of the invention, the wing nut (26 or 35) may be manipulated by the lingers, or the thumb and forenger, of the hand that engages the handle. Since the other hand will be used for holding the can to which the invention is to be attached, the screw and wing nut structure greatly facilitates installation of the device on (and removal thereof from),A a can.

It should be understood that various modiications may be made in the structure described hereinabove Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What-'is claimed is:V i

A detachable handle for use with a can having a cylindrical wall, comprising, a frame having a body, a handle, and upper and lower arms connecting the handle to the body, the body being transversely arcuate to correspond to the curvature of the side wall of the can and having inturned margins provided with outer surface portions closely conforming to thel curved wall of the can throughout the major portion f tlheight of said wall, said margins deniiig'.'grooves, "a fixed. clamping jaw having side margins clamped inthe grooves. at the lower end of the body and including upwardly directed spaced iingers for gripping-the Alower rim of .thecanya movable clamping jaw on the bodyrand slidable in the grooves at the upper end of 'said body 'and having downwardly directed spaced fingers for gripping the upper rim of the can, said movable clamping jaw having an extension projecting over the upper arm, a screw extending upwardlylthrough the iupper arm and the extension, and a nut rotatable on the upper end of the screw for clamping the handle on the can, whereby said nut may be manipulated by the fingers of the hand which engages the handle.'V i

i References Cited in the le of this patent Y .UNITED STATES PATENTS maar? Solsona; Auge, 193s $08,285 'Y-Robuck; oct.,1 ,'19s1 

